Air velocity apparatus and system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a system is provided that may be utilized to determine air flow through an air filter and/or a plurality of air filters. The present invention utilizes a demonstration apparatus to illustrate the differences in air flow and air restriction between a plurality of different air filters and filtration media. The apparatus and system utilizes a common plenum which subjects the plurality of air filters to the same differential pressure. The air flows through a first side of the air filter and is measured on the second side of the air filter by utilizing a wind meter or similar device to gauge the amount of air flow velocity of the second side of the filter. Additionally, the apparatus and system utilizes a display means to illustrate the differing air velocity through the second side of the air filter.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/126,874 filed on Sep. 10, 2018, U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/300,400 filed on Jun. 10, 2014, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,072,620and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/346,633 filed on Jan. 9, 2012,issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,770,011, U.S. patent Ser. No. 12/421,574 filedon Apr. 9, 2009, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,113,036, Ser. No. 11,752,826filed on May 23, 2007, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,430, the entiretyof each of said applications being incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicleperformance parts. More specifically, the present invention relates toapparatus and system to measure the air velocity through a vehicle airfilter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most commercial and private vehicles have a plethora of parts andnecessary elements to make them run properly. A typical vehicle hasthousands of moving, functional and essential parts.

For many car enthusiasts, modifying a factory vehicle with upgradedaftermarket parts is rewarding and satisfying in a multiplicity ofdifferent ways. Many individuals decide to modify their vehicles foraesthetic purposes. However, many individuals modify or alter theirvehicles to elicit better performance from their vehicle or to upgradefrom more restrictive parts that come with their vehicle from thefactory to less restrictive parts with better usability and/orperformance.

There are some very common aftermarket modifications that most vehicleenthusiasts, such as car owners, motorcycle owners, boat, and othergasoline/diesel powered vehicle owners choose to employ. A few of thesecommon aftermarket modifications are replacement of a vehicle exhaustsystem, and replacement of headers (which are tubes that run from theengine and direct unwanted heat and exhaust away from the engine).Additionally, many individuals will recalibrate a vehicle's computerwhich regulates engine speed and other functions, to elicit higherperformance and tolerances. However, the most common type of vehiclemodification is the replacement of the stock air filter with anaftermarket type air filter.

The two main types of air filters that are used in vehicles are thecombustion air filter, and the cabin air filter. The cabin air filter isa pleated paper filter that is placed in the outside-air intake for thevehicle's passenger compartment. Some of these filters are rectangularand similar in shape to the combustion air filter. Others are uniquelyshaped to fit the available space of a particular vehicle's outside-airintakes. This type of filter is relatively new to the car industry andoften gets clogged and dirty. Newer cabin air filters may reduceallergens and may utilize additional compositions to reduceparticulates, odors and the like.

The combustion air filters are used in vehicles to prevent abrasiveparticulate matter from entering the engine. If particulate is allowedto enter the engine, it could cause mechanical problems or contaminationof vital fluids needed for proper engine management, includingcontamination of engine oil.

Most modern, fuel injected vehicles use some sort of pleated paperfilter element in the form of a flat panel. This filter is usuallyplaced inside a plastic box connected to the throttle body with a largehose. The filter may stop particulate matter and other contaminates fromentering the engine and causing damage or degradation of the engine.

Older vehicles typically are not fuel injected, but rather usecarburetors or throttle body fuel injection. These types of vehiclestypically use a different air filter, usually only a few inches high andcylindrical in shape. These air filters are positioned above thecarburetor or throttle body, usually in a metal or plastic containerwhich may incorporate ducting to provide cooler and/or warmer inlet air,and are secured with a metal or plastic lid.

Most air filters are constructed from similar materials. Traditionalprior art air filters are constructed from a pleated paper filterbecause they are efficient, easy to use and cost-effective. Other airfilters are constructed of different materials such as cotton, foam andthe like. Aftermarket filters are typically constructed of one and/or acombination of these materials and may allow for more air flow from theoutside of the vehicle to the engine, which may increase engineperformance while still reducing contaminant intrusion into the engine.

A very large aftermarket presence has arisen from the replacement of thestock factory air filter with a newer, more efficient filter that mayallow for increased air flow through the filter and subsequently intothe engine. However, many of these aftermarket manufacturers claim thattheir air filter performs better than another manufacturer's aftermarketair filter, when in fact they may not, or in the alternative, mayperform more poorly.

One problem that exists, is that the air flow through an air filter maypositively affect performance, but it is difficult to detect from normaluse of the vehicle any changes that an aftermarket filter may provide.Additionally, another problem that exists, is that there is no goodmethod or technique to determine which air filter product may be betterthan a competing air filter product at reducing air restriction througha filter media.

A need therefore exists for an improved apparatus and system todetermine the air flow and air restriction through a vehicle air filter.Additionally, a need therefore exists for an improved apparatus andsystem that may be utilized to determine the air flow through a filterand a system for measuring exiting air velocity from an air filter.

A need also exists for an improved apparatus and system to determine theair flow through a plurality of competing and different vehicle airfilters and a system for measuring the air flow through the plurality ofair filters. Moreover, a need exists for a system that may compare theair flow through a plurality of different air filters to determine whichair filter provides the greatest amount of air flow and the least amountof air restriction through the filters. Lastly, a need exists for asystem and apparatus to display the results of the air velocity testingto a viewer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a system that may beutilized to determine air flow and/or air restriction through an airfilter. The present invention utilizes a demonstration apparatus toillustrate the differences in air flow and subsequent air velocitybetween a plurality of different air filters and/or filtration media.The present invention utilizes a common plenum which subjects theplurality of air filters to the same differential pressure. The airflows through a first side of the air filter and may be measured on thesecond side of the air filter by utilizing a wind meter or similardevice to gauge the air velocity and/or air restriction from the secondside of the filter. Additionally, the present invention may utilize adisplay means to illustrate the differing air velocities acquired fromthe exiting air on the second side of the air filter.

To this end, in an exemplary embodiment the present invention, anapparatus for measuring air flow through a filtration media is provided.The apparatus has a container means by having at least a side, and a topand bottom portion. Additionally, the apparatus has an accommodationportion whereby the accommodation portion has at least one openingthereon for accommodating a filtration media. Moreover, the apparatushas one or more blowers for pressurizing the apparatus resulting inmoving air through the air filtration media and at least one anemometerto measure the air flow through the air filtration media.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has an accommodation portion thatholds a plurality of air filtration media.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has a top plate hinged to the topportion of the container means wherein the top plate may extend away andallow access to the accommodation portion.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has a plurality of anemometersconnected to the accommodation portion.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has a plurality of anemometerswhereby the anemometers collect air flow data from above the airfiltration media and report the results of collected information to aviewer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has filter media wherein the airfiltration media is a vehicle air filter.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has a container means wherein thecontainer means has at least one transparent portion whereby a viewermay observe the interior portion of the container means.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has a common plenum to subjectthe air filtration media to the same differential pressure.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has a front portion and the topportion of the container means that is constructed of clearPlexi-glass™.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has anemometers that measure thetotal air velocity exiting a plurality of filter media and displays theresults of the total air velocity on a display means.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has an anemometer that ispositioned above the air filtration media whereby upon exiting the airfiltration media, air velocity data is collected by the anemometer todetermine the velocity of exiting air from the air filtration media.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has a plurality of anemometersthat are positioned in substantially the same position on theaccommodation portion such that each anemometer is subject to a set ofparameters including being subject to the air flow velocity leaving eachair filtration media.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has an accommodation portion thathas a plurality of openings thereon to accommodate a plurality of airfiltration media whereby the air filtration media is removably placedinto the openings and further wherein the air filtration media may bemoved from one opening on the accommodation portion to another openingthereon.

To this end, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, asystem for measuring air velocity is provided. The system has acontainer means having at least a side, and a top and bottom portionwhereby the side and the top portion are transparent. Additionally, thesystem has a plurality of spaced apart openings on the top portion ofthe container means and one or more blowers contained within thecontainer means to create air flow. Moreover, the system has a pluralityof air filter media placed in the opening on the top portion of thecontainer means and a plurality of wind meters associated with each ofthe plurality of air filter media.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has a common plenum containedwithin the container means to subject all air filters to an equal airpressure.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has wind meters wherein the windmeters are positioned above the air filter media whereby upon exitingthe air filter media, air velocity data is collected by the wind metersto determine velocity of exiting air from the air filter media.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has wind meters wherein the windmeters display the results of measured air velocity through the airfilter media.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has wind meters wherein the windmeters display the results of the measured air velocity through the airfilter media by utilizing a display means.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system may be connected to a terminalwhereby the terminal graphically displays and prints a copy of thecollected air velocity data from each of the air filter media.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system has a plurality of openingspositioned on the top portion of the container means that accommodates aplurality of air filter media whereby the air filter media is removablyplaced into the plurality of openings and further wherein the air filtermedia is interchangeable with any of the plurality of openings.

To this end, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anapparatus and system for measuring air velocity is provided.

In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus and a system for measuringair velocity is provided. The apparatus may be utilized for illustrativepurposes.

Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus and system for measuringair velocity whereby the air velocity exiting an air filter is measured.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air restriction of an airfilter.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity of aplurality of different air filters.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through a plurality ofair filters whereby the apparatus may hold a plurality of different airfilters for measurement of air flow through the plurality of differentair filters.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system whereby the results of the air velocitiesthrough a plurality of air filters may be illustrated to a user ingraphical form.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system whereby the invention may have a common plenumwhich ensures that all the tested air filters are subject to the sameair pressure.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air flow through an airfilter whereby the apparatus may have a common plenum contained in acontainer means and/or housing whereby the housing accommodates theplurality of air filters.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air flow through a plurality ofair filters whereby the apparatus and system may determine which of theplurality of air filters allows for the greatest air flow and/or leastair restriction through the filter and may illustrate the air flowresults and/or air velocity to a viewer.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide apparatus and a system for measuring air flow through aplurality of air filters whereby the apparatus may have a clearPlexi-glass™ housing to illustrate air movement in the common plenum tothe viewer.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air flow through plurality of airfilters whereby the plurality of air filters may be of differingmaterials.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air flow through a plurality of airfilters whereby the plurality of air filters may be constructed ofdifferent materials and whereby the air filters may restrict air flow indiffering amounts.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air flow through aplurality of air filtration media whereby the apparatus may have a clearPlexi-glass™ portion whereby a viewer may view the air flow from thecontainer to the air media.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air flow whereby the apparatusmay have an air velocity meter attached thereto to measure the airvelocity output from an air filter.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air flow through aplurality of air filters whereby the apparatus may have a plurality ofair velocity meters associated with the plurality of air filters tomeasure the air velocity output from each of the plurality of airfilters.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an air mediawhereby the apparatus may utilize wind meters to measure air flowthrough the air media.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an airfilter that may be utilized in a vehicle such as a car, motorcycle, ATV,truck, boats, personal watercraft and the like.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an air filterthat may be utilized to determine the best air flow and highest airvelocity through a plurality of air filters.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through a pluralityof aftermarket OE or OE replacement air filters that may be utilized ina particular vehicle.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through aplurality of air filters whereby the apparatus may utilize a displaymeans to illustrate the air filter with the greatest amount of air flowtherethrough. Still another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention is to provide an apparatus and a system for measuring airvelocity through a plurality of air filters whereby the apparatus mayutilize a display means whereby the display means may be a plurality ofgaseous colors to illustrate the greatest air flow through the airfilters.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through a pluralityof air filters whereby the apparatus may utilize a display means wherebythe display means may be a colored gas that is associated with each airfilter whereby increased colored gas displays illustrate higher air flowthrough the air filters to the viewer.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through aplurality of air filters whereby the apparatus may utilize a hinged topplate that may be incorporated into the apparatus to hold the filters inplace.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an air mediawhereby the apparatus may utilize a hinged top plate that may be openedto allow for insertion and extraction of the air filters from theapparatus for display.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through anair filtration media whereby the apparatus may utilize a hinged topplate whereby the hinged top plate may have a plurality of air filterstations in spaced apart operation whereby a plurality of air filtersmay be inserted into the plurality of air filter stations.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an airfiltration media whereby the apparatus may utilize a hinged top platewhereby the hinged top plate may have a plurality of air filter stationsin spaced apart operation whereby a plurality of air filters may beinserted into the plurality of air filter stations and further whereinthe plurality of air filters may be moved from one air filter station toanother air filter station for illustrative purposes, and to illustratesubstantially stable air flow velocity through the filter at any of theplurality of air filter stations.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an air mediawhereby the apparatus may utilize a plurality of air filter stationswhereby an air filter is associated with each air filter station andwhereby the air pressure exposure to each air filter station issubstantially equal.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through anair media whereby the apparatus may utilize a plurality of air filterstations which are positioned on the top portion of the apparatus forillustrative purposes to the viewer.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an air mediawhereby the apparatus may utilize a plurality of air filter stationswhich may be positioned on the top portion of the apparatus and wherebythe air filter stations may be positioned under a hinged top plate.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an airmedia whereby the apparatus may utilize a plurality of air filterstations positioned under a hinged top plate whereby filters may beplaced into the filter stations and may be moved from one station toanother station for illustration to a viewer.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through anair filtration media whereby the apparatus may utilize an air flowvelocity device to measure the air flow velocity through an air media.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an air mediamay be provided whereby the apparatus may utilize an air flow velocitydevice that may measure the air flow velocity through the air mediawherein the air flow velocity device may be a wind meter.

Still a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through anair media whereby the apparatus may utilize an air flow velocity deviceand further wherein the air flow velocity device may have a displaymeans to illustrate the air velocity through the device.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an air mediawhereby the apparatus may utilize an air flow velocity device having anelectronic display means to illustrate the air velocity and/or airrestriction through the air filtration media.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an airmedia whereby the apparatus may utilize an air flow velocity devicewhereby the air flow velocity device may print a graphicalrepresentation of the air flow through the air media.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through anair filtration media whereby the apparatus may utilize an air flowvelocity device whereby the air flow velocity device may provideillustration of the air velocity/restriction through the air media forpresentation to the viewer.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity whereby theapparatus may contain and hold a plurality of different air filters formeasurement of air flow through the plurality of air filters.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and system for measuring air velocity through anair filtration media whereby the apparatus may have a plurality of airfilters contained on the top portion of the apparatus where a viewer mayobserve the apparatus and associated plurality of air filters.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring the air velocity through an airmedia whereby the apparatus may have a hinged top plate whereby thehinged top plate may be located on the top portion of the apparatus.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring the air velocity through an airmedia whereby the apparatus may have a hinged plate whereby the hingedplate may be located on the sides of the apparatus for illustration tothe viewer.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an airmedia whereby the apparatus may have a cabinet having a clear portionfor illustration of air flow through the air filtration media.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through anair filter media whereby the apparatus may have a container means forholding the air velocity system whereby the container means may beconstructed of metal.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an air mediawhereby the apparatus may have a container means for holding the airvelocity system whereby the container means may be constructed of wood,plastic, metal or any suitable material for utilizing the air velocitysystem.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an airfiltration media whereby the apparatus may have a gaseous blowing meanswhereby the blowing means thrusts air flow from one portion in theinterior portion of the apparatus to a second portion in the apparatus.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through anair filtration media whereby the air velocity apparatus may have anairflow capacity from one cubic foot to ten thousand cubic feet, but inan exemplary embodiment may be at least 1500 cubic feet per minutethrough a plurality of air filtration media.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an airfiltration media whereby the apparatus may have a container meansincluding a blowing means wherein the blowers are positioned in thebottom portion of the container means.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through aplurality of air filters whereby the blowers employed by the apparatusmay be constant and/or variable speed blowers.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through a pluralityof air medias whereby the apparatus may have a wind meter that issecured to the top plate so that the air velocity is measured at thesame place above the air filtration medias.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through a plurality ofair filter media whereby a differential pressure gauge may be providedincluding but not limited to a liquid filled manometer, analog and/ordigital differential pressure gauge that may be added to the commonplenum.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through aplurality of air filters whereby the air flow differences in each airfilter's discharge velocity may be measured with a wind velocity metermounted above the air filter.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a system for measuring air velocity through an air mediawhereby the apparatus may have a common plenum that ensures that theplurality of air filters will be subjected to the same differentialpressure.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to providean apparatus and system for measuring air velocity through a pluralityof air filters whereby the apparatus may incorporate a plurality ofdisplay means to illustrate the air discharge velocity of the pluralityof air filters.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with theaccompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed herein, and will be apparent from the detailed description ofthe presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the apparatus in an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a disassembled front perspective view of the apparatus in anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus for measuring air velocity in anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the anemometer and/or wind velocity meter in anexemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the air velocity apparatus in anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings wherein elements are identified by numbersand like elements are identified by like numbers throughout the 5figures, the invention is depicted in FIG. 1 and illustrates an airvelocity apparatus 1 that may be utilized to illustrate air flow throughan air filtration media 3.

Referring first to FIG. 1, an air velocity apparatus 1 is provided. Theair velocity apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a device) may have aplurality of different configurations, but for illustrative purposes isshown in only a single embodiment for ease of description. Thereby, thedevice 1 may have a first side 5 and a second side 7. Additionally, thedevice 1 may have a front portion 13 and a rear portion 11. Moreover,the device 1 may further have a top portion 9 and a bottom portion 15.The device may also have wheels 19 attached to the bottom portion 15 ofthe device 1 for movement and relocation of the device 1 when desiredfor illustrative purposes. The wheels 19 may allow the device 1 to bemoved from one location to another where the device may be used,installed and utilized for illustration to a plurality of differentviewers (not shown).

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the air velocity apparatus 1 may aviewable portion 21 in the front portion 13 of the device 1. In anexemplary embodiment, this viewable portion 21 may be constructed ofPlexi-glass™. However, it should be understood that the viewable portion21 may be constructed of any suitable transparent material that wouldallow the viewer to view the inside portion 23 of the container 25.Therefore, the viewable portion 21 may be constructed of glass, plastic,or any other transparent material. The preferred embodiment contemplateshaving this viewable portion 21 located at the top 29 of the frontportion 13. However, the viewable portion 21 may encompass the entiretyof the front portion 13. It should also be understood that the viewableportion 21 may be contained on the first side 5 and on the second side7, and/or may be positioned on the back portion 11 of the device forillustration of the air velocity apparatus to the viewer.

FIG. 1 further illustrates the top portion 9 of the air velocity device1 whereby the top portion has a hinge 29 attached to the top portion 9of the device 1 whereby the hinge 29 attaches the top plate 31 to thetop portion 9 of the device 1. The hinged top plate 31 may beincorporated into the device 1 to allow for insertion of independent airfiltration media 33 into the device. In an exemplary embodiment, the airfiltration media 33 is an air filter 35. The air filter 35 may be placedinto an opening 37 in the top portion 9 of the device that may bespecifically designed and constructed to allow for insertion of an airfilter 35 into the opening 37. The opening 37 may be designed toaccommodate a specifically sized air filter 35 and/or may be designedand constructed to accommodate a plurality of differently sized airfilter 35. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, a second air filter 41 mayalso be accommodated into a second opening 43 in the top portion 9 ofthe device, whereby a second filter 41 may be inserted into the secondopening 43 which is adjacent to the first opening 37. As with the firstopening 37, the second opening 43 may be designed to accommodate aspecifically sized second air filter 41 and/or may be designed toaccommodate a different sized air filter.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 1 may also have a thirdposition 45, a fourth position 47, a fifth position 49 and a sixthposition 51, whereby the third, fourth, fifth and sixth positions 45,47, 49 and 51 may have corresponding third, fourth, fifth and sixthopenings 53, 55, 57 and 59, respectively, which may be adapted to accepta third, fourth, fifth and sixth air filter 61, 63, 65, and 67respectively. Although in an exemplary embodiment, the present inventionillustrates the use of six stations which may accommodate six airfilters, the invention is not limited to this pre-set amount, andfurther is indicative of having exactly six stations to accommodate sixair filters. The invention may be utilized for any number of air filtersand can have substantially more or less than the illustrated sixstations.

Additionally, FIG. 1 illustrates the blower 71 utilized to create airvelocity through the air filter 37. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the blower71 may be positioned at the bottom section 73 of the device 1. In anexemplary embodiment, the device 1 may use a first blower 71 and asecond blower 75 whereby the two blowers 71, 75 may create the necessaryair flow necessary to provide air velocity output through the air filter37. This may be accomplished by providing a common plenum 77. The commonplenum 77 may ensure that all of the filter 37 will be subject to thesame differential pressure. The difference in filter restriction willcause any differences in air flow velocity through any respective filter37.

FIG. 2 illustrates the air velocity device 1 in a disassembled state. Aspreviously demonstrated, the device 1 may have a first side 5 and asecond side 7 which is part of the frame 81 of the device. Additionally,the device 1 may have a front plate 83 and a rear plate 85 that may beremoved from the frame 81 of the device 1. Additionally the top plate 31is also illustrated having a plurality of air filter 35 and theaccommodation portion 87 having a plurality of openings to accommodatethe filter 35. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the accommodationportion 87 may have a plurality of opening 37 thereon and may also havea first anemometer and/or wind meter 91 positioned thereon and furthercorresponding to the first opening 37 on the accommodation portion 87.Additionally, a second anemometer and/or wind meter 93 may be positionedon the accommodation portion 87 and further may correspond to the secondopening 43 of the accommodation portion 87. In an exemplary embodiment,a third, fourth, fifth and sixth wind meter and/or anemometer 95, 97, 99and 101 may also be positioned on the accommodation portion 87 andcorrespond to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth air filters 61, 63, 65,and 67.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the air velocity device 1. The topportion 9 of the device 1 may have a top plate 31 attached to theoutside edge 103 of the top portion 9. The top plate 31 may be hinged tothe outside edge 103 by the use of a connection means 105. In anexemplary embodiment, the connection means 105 is a hinge 29. In anembodiment, the air velocity device may have a first hinge 29 and asecond hinge 107. However, it should be understood that any type ofother connection means 105 such as adhesive, hook and fastener, snap fitand the like may be utilized to attach the top plate 31 to the outsideedge 103 of the top portion 9 of the device 1. The front position 109 ofthe top plate may have a handle 111 to allow for pivoting of the topplate 31 relative to the top portion 9 of the device 1. Underneath thetop plate 31 is the accommodation portion 87 which has the plurality ofopenings thereon for accommodation of a plurality of air filter 35. Ascan be seen in FIG. 3, the accommodation portion 87 of the device 1 mayalso have a plurality of wind meters and/or anemometer 93 attachedthereto. The wind meters extend away from an inside edge 113 of theaccommodation portion 87 and extend into the space 112 occupied by theopening and/or the positioned air filter 35. In an exemplary embodiment,the wind meters may be securely mounted to the top plate 31 so the airvelocity that is measured is always measured at the same place above thefilter 37 in the plurality of positions. The air filter 35 may be fittedonto the accommodation portion 87 whereby the accommodation portion 87may be fitted to specified parameters to accommodate a specified sizedair filter 35. A plurality of different air filter 35 may be utilized asillustrated in FIG. 3 whereby the wind meters are positioned on a secondside 113 of the air filter to determine the air restriction through theplurality of air filter 35 and display to the viewer which air filter 35allows the least restriction of air through the filter 35.

It should also be noted, that the air filter 35 may be inserted andextracted from the accommodating portion 87 and re-inserted into anotherlocation on the accommodation portion 87 to illustrate that eachlocation will have a substantially similar air flow velocity, whereby nomatter where the air filter 35 is located on the accommodation portion87, the air velocity through the air filter should remain substantiallyconstant.

FIG. 4 illustrates the wind meters 93 associated with the accommodationportion 87 of the device 1. The wind meters 93 are located above thesecond side 113 of the air filter 35 whereby the unrestricted air flowthrough the filter 35 is analyzed by the wind meters 93. The wind meter93 collects a sampling of the air flow through the filter 35 anddisplays the data collected to the viewer. In an exemplary embodiment,the wind meter may have a display means 115 whereby the user can easilydetermine how much air flow is allowed through the air filter 35. Thedisplay means 115 may be a LCD screen 117 that illustrates the air flowthrough the filter 35. In an exemplary embodiment, the wind meteranalyzes and displays the air flow velocity in miles per hour. However,in another embodiment, the wind meter 93 may display the results of theair velocity through the air filter 35 in knots, kilometers per hour, orany other display of velocity pressure and/or airflow.

Additionally, the wind meter 93 may also have a first button 119 wherebythe button may allow the viewer to view the results of the airrestriction of each air filter 35 in a plurality of different capacitiesincluding miles per hour, kilometers per hour and the like. The windmeter may be adjusted to display the results based on the preference ofthe viewer. The wind meter may also have a second button 121 whereby thesecond button 121 may be utilized to reset the wind meter for furthertesting and demonstration of its corresponding air filter 35.

FIG. 5 illustrates the device 1 whereby a plurality of differentreporting and display means may be utilized to display the difference inair velocity between the plurality of air filter 35. In an exemplaryembodiment, a plurality of colored gases 123 may be utilized toillustrate which of the plurality of air filters has the least amount ofair flow restriction therebetween. The colored gases 123 may be utilizedto illustrate visually to a viewer the air flow through the air filters.The greater amount of colored gas 123 that is viewable to an observer,the more air flow that is being allowed through the filter, therebyallowing the observer to determine which of the plurality of air filtersis the most and/or least restrictive.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device 1and the plurality of wind meters may be connected to a peripherycomputation device 125. The periphery computation device 125 may be acomputer 127. The computer 127 may receive statistical information fromthe device 1 wind meters and may use the data to graphically orstatistically display the results to the viewer relating to which airfilter 35 had the least and/or most amount of air restriction. Thecomputer 127 could also show in graphical form which air filter 35 hadthe best air flow therethrough. In an exemplary embodiment, the computer127 may be connected to a printer (not shown) whereby a viewer may printthe results of the air velocity device 1 whereby a viewer may be able tosee which air filter 35 results in the least amount of air restrictiontherethrough.

Thus, specific embodiments and applications of a safety device systemhave been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled inthe art that many more modifications besides those already described arepossible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. Theinventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except inthe spirit of the appended claims. The terms “comprises” and“comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components,or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referencedelements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combinedwith other elements, components, or steps that are not expresslyreferenced.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for measuring air flow through afiltration media, the apparatus comprising: a container means having atleast a side, and a top and bottom portion; an accommodation portionwhereby the accommodation portion has at least one opening thereon foraccommodating an air filtration media; one or more blowers for directingair flow through the air filtration media; and at least one anemometerto measure the air flow through the air filtration media.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the accommodation portion holds a pluralityof air filtration media.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:a top plate hinged to the top portion of the container means wherein thetop plate may extend away and allow access to the accommodation portion.4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a plurality ofanemometers connected to the accommodation portion.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the apparatus has a plurality of anemometers whereby theanemometers collect air flow data from above the air filtration mediaand report the results to a viewer.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe air filtration media is a vehicle air filter.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the container means has at least one transparent portionwhereby a viewer may observe the interior portion of the containermeans.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a common plenumto subject the air filtration media to the same differential pressure.9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a front portion and the top portionof the container means is constructed of clear Plexi-glass™.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the anemometer measures the total velocityexiting a plurality of air filtration media and displays the results ofthe total velocity on a display means.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the anemometer is positioned above the air filtration mediawhereby upon exiting the air filtration media, air velocity data iscollected by the anemometer to determine velocity of exiting air fromthe air filtration media.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein aplurality of anemometers are positioned in substantially the sameposition on the accommodation portion such that each anemometer issubject to a set of parameters including only the air flow velocityleaving each air filtration media.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe accommodation portion has a plurality of openings thereon toaccommodate a plurality of air filtration media whereby the airfiltration media is removably placed into the openings and furtherwherein the air filtration media may be moved from one opening on theaccommodation portion to another opening thereon.
 14. A system ofmeasuring air velocity, the system comprising: a container means havingat least a side, and a top and bottom portion whereby the side and thetop portion are transparent; a plurality of spaced apart openings on thetop portion of the container means; one or more blowers contained withinthe container means to create an air flow; a plurality of air filtermedia placed in the opening on the top portion of the container means;and a plurality of wind meters associated with each of the plurality ofair filters.
 15. The system of claim 14 further comprising: a commonplenum contained within the container means to subject the air filtersto the same differential pressure.
 16. The system of claim 14 whereinthe wind meters are positioned above the air filters whereby uponexiting the air filters, air velocity data is collected by the windmeters to determine velocity of exiting air from the air filters. 17.The system of claim 14 wherein the wind meters display the results ofmeasured air velocity through the air filters.
 18. The system of claim14 wherein the wind meters display the results of the measured airvelocity through the air filters utilizing a display means.
 19. Thesystem of claim 14 wherein the system may be connected to a terminalwhereby the terminal graphically displays and prints a copy of thecollected air velocity data from each of the air filters.
 20. The systemof claim 14 wherein the plurality of openings on the top portion of thecontainer means accommodates a plurality of air filters whereby the airfilters are removably placed into the plurality of openings and furtherwherein the air filters are interchangeable with any of the plurality ofopenings.